BaL 16.04.11 - Prokofiev: Symphony no. 6

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...So, I can’t reject it on the grounds that it doesn’t conform to the ‘template’ ...

This philosophy is the essence of a good review, which Saturday's BaL undoubtedly was. It was in stark contrast to the previous week's offering when Roy Goodman laid down en extremely narrow set of "rules" (his own word) with very little flexibility in interpretation. Jonathan Swain's excellent review restored my faith in BaL

[amateur51]

This philosophy is the essence of a good review, which Saturday's BaL undoubtedly was. It was in stark contrast to the previous week's offering when Roy Goodman laid down en extremely narrow set of "rules" (his own word) with very little flexibility in interpretation. Jonathan Swain's excellent review restored my faith in BaL

With respect EA, Jonathan had a much smaller pool to choose from that did Roy Goodman who had to find a 'reason' for narrowing down his options.

Whatever 'rules' were chosen, it wouldn't suit everyone.Andrew acknowledged the Herculean aspect of Goodman's task at the very start & I still think that they accomplished an impossible task pretty well.

[Curalach]

Wise words am51.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

With respect EA, Jonathan had a much smaller pool to choose from that did Roy Goodman who had to find a 'reason' for narrowing down his options.

Whatever 'rules' were chosen, it wouldn't suit everyone.Andrew acknowledged the Herculean aspect of Goodman's task at the very start & I still think that they accomplished an impossible task pretty well.

Yes, the list was enormous, but he could have made a broadly-based shortlist from the outset, based upon musical merit rather than personal obsession, and then compared these versions.

[amateur51]

Yes, the list was enormous, but he could have made a broadly-based shortlist from the outset, based upon musical merit rather than personal obsession, and then compared these versions.

"broadly-based shortlist from the outset, based upon musical merit" - not a lot of possibility for shared criteria there, EA. Goodman made a list based on musical merit as he defines it, I believe

[Ferretfancy]

Jonathan Swain,

How nice to find you here! Do you remember the Festival Hall series of the Prokofiev symphonies with Edward Downes at the helm of the BBC PO? Now if they were available they would be high on my list. I've always enjoyed the Leinsdorf 6, and don't have your reservations about the sound. John Browning made a fine set of the Piano Concertos with him and the Boston SO, also available on Testament. Hearing them on LP was a great introduction to nos. 2 & 4, I remember.
Warm Wishes
Ferret

[3rd Viennese School]

So theres no tempo markings on Prokofiev 6! So thats why some recordings drag the ending out and others go for a gallop! The idea of course is to make E flat major sound completly un-triumpant. It fullfills that in the Decca NHK recording. It would be interesting which speed was used in the 1947 premiere!

Also important to remember that the orchestral scream at the start of mvt 2 and near the end of mvt 2 are different, the latter being even more dramatic.

And of course, in mvt 1 you've got a very controlled climax with the orchestral tutti and the rolling drums which you dont often get in Prokofiev.

A few thoughts for anyone attempting to play it!

3VS

[amateur51]

Jonathan Swain,

How nice to find you here! Do you remember the Festival Hall series of the Prokofiev symphonies with Edward Downes at the helm of the BBC PO? Now if they were available they would be high on my list. I've always enjoyed the Leinsdorf 6, and don't have your reservations about the sound. John Browning made a fine set of the Piano Concertos with him and the Boston SO, also available on Testament. Hearing them on LP was a great introduction to nos. 2 & 4, I remember.
Warm Wishes
Ferret

Recently re-released as a boxed set Ferret:

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//88697809452.htm

Presto is cheaper still on special offer

[Jonathan Swain]

Do you remember the Festival Hall series of the Prokofiev symphonies with Edward Downes at the helm of the BBC PO? Now if they were available they would be high on my list. I've always enjoyed the Leinsdorf 6, and don't have your reservations about the sound

Hail Ferret - Downes’ Prokofiev symphony cycle at the RFH - early 90s wasn’t it? Chandos missed a trick there (a recorded cycle may have upstaged their Järvi one?). Perhaps there are BBC tapes somewhere. Let’s hope so…… Am slightly concerned now that I may have jettisoned Leinsdorf unfairly on account of the recorded sound (these things are very system-dependent!). Did feel though that there was a touch of the drill sergeant about Leinsdorf (and not just in Prokofiev 6)…. All best wishes, J

[Bryn]

I have fond memories of a series of three programmes on Radio 3 back, I think, in the early '80s, which included performances conducted by Downes of pairs of linked Prokofiev works. The Fourth and The Prodigal Son was one, the Cello Concerto and Symphony Concerto (Rohan de Saram) was another. I cant quite recall what the third was immediately. I wonder if they might still be in the archive?

[Legendary Dennis]

Where is the podcast for this BAL? It sems to be missing from the list and has never appeared since the broadcast.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I was wondering about this too.

[Petrushka]

Do you remember the Festival Hall series of the Prokofiev symphonies with Edward Downes at the helm of the BBC PO? Ferret

I attended two of these concerts given on April 27 & 28 1991 and which featured the last three symphonies and the Sinfonia Concertante. I would also strongly welcome a CD issue of these memorable performances.

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyone had the Prok 6 BAL podcast yet? Not me

Here it's leapt from the Beethoven Vln concerto to yesterday's Rossini... Been refreshing regularly over the past week.

Anyone else been denied it?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

No sign of it, I'm afraid.